Londonderry man accused of ax attack waives court hearing

By APRIL GUILMETUnion Leader CorrespondentMarch 25. 2013 3:09PMLONDONDERRY - A Londonderry man accused of striking his uncle with an ax last week waived his probable cause hearing in Derry District Court Monday afternoon.

Londonderry police arrested Aaron McDermott, 33, this past Wednesday afternoon after police were summoned to his Boston Avenue home. According to police reports, McDermott allegedly struck his uncle, Marc Vitti, in the elbow and back with an ax after the two men had an argument.

Police said Vitti, who suffered some minor injuries during the incident but wasn't hospitalized, had attempted to call 911 several times, but McDermott blocked those initial efforts.

McDermott, who appeared in court Monday afternoon wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and wrist shackles, is being charged with second-degree assault, criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, criminal trespassing, possession of controlled drugs and three counts of obstructing a report of a crime or injury.

Police said a substance, believed to be heroin, was found on the premises during McDermott's arrest.

After failing to make his $50,000 cash bail, he was held at the Rockingham County Jail.

On Monday afternoon Judge John Coughlin, who denied McDermott's attorney's request to remove members of the press from the courtroom, reduced bail to $10,000 cash pursuant to a hearing waiver.

Judge Coughlin said the bail amount would be further reduced to $2,000 personal recognizance bail upon completion of a residential drug-treatment program. A court order preventing McDermott from having any contact with Vitti was vacated.